How far is Big Bear City, CA from San Diego, CA?
The driving distance from Big Bear City, CA to San Diego, CA is about 157.1 miles (252.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 02m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 108.4 miles (174.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 03h 02m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Census-designated place in Riverside County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Big Bear City and San Diego.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Bear City and San Diego.
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1
Start on East Big Bear Boulevard
1.3 mi · 3 min · East Big Bear Boulevard
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2
Turn straight
109 m · 17 sec
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3
Turn straight onto Greenspot Boulevard
38 mi · 53 min · Greenspot Boulevard
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4
Continue on Mill Creek Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · Mill Creek Road
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5
Turn left onto Bryant Street
2.4 mi · 4 min · Bryant Street
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6
Turn right onto Oak Glen Road
1.3 mi · 2 min · Oak Glen Road
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7
Turn left onto 5th Street
2.9 mi · 5 min · 5th Street
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8
Continue on 5th Street
45 m · 3 sec · 5th Street
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9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward County Line Road
4 m · 1 sec · County Line Road
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10
Exit the roundabout onto County Line Road
2803 ft · 1 min · County Line Road
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11
Take the ramp left toward I 10 East
1286 ft · 31 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
7.1 mi · 8 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward CA 79: Beaumont Avenue
1063 ft · 29 sec
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14
Turn right onto Beaumont Avenue
1710 ft · 32 sec · Beaumont Avenue
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15
Continue on Lamb Canyon Road
5.6 mi · 7 min · Lamb Canyon Road
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16
Continue on Sanderson Avenue
9.6 mi · 15 min · Sanderson Avenue
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17
Turn right onto Domenigoni Parkway
4.9 mi · 6 min · Domenigoni Parkway
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18
Turn left onto Winchester Road
13.4 mi · 19 min · Winchester Road
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19
Take the ramp slight right toward I 15 South, CA 79 South: San Diego
1573 ft · 33 sec
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20
Merge slight left onto Escondido Freeway
4.5 mi · 5 min · Escondido Freeway
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21
Continue on Avocado Highway
21.9 mi · 24 min · Avocado Highway
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22
Continue on Escondido Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Escondido Freeway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Escondido Freeway
8.7 mi · 10 min · Escondido Freeway
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24
Continue on Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
4.5 mi · 5 min · Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
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25
Continue on Escondido Freeway
3.1 mi · 4 min · Escondido Freeway
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26
Continue on Semper Fi Highway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Semper Fi Highway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward CA 163 South
1.2 km · 52 sec
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28
Continue on Cabrillo Freeway
8.2 mi · 9 min · Cabrillo Freeway
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29
Continue on Cabrillo Parkway
1.5 mi · 2 min · Cabrillo Parkway
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30
Continue on Cabrillo Parkway
1.3 km · 1 min · Cabrillo Parkway
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31
Continue on 10th Avenue
1507 ft · 42 sec · 10th Avenue
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32
Turn right onto Broadway
2811 ft · 1 min · Broadway
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33
Turn left onto Front Street
8 m · 1 sec · Front Street
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Front Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Big Bear City and San Diego.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
Greenspot Boulevard
Turn straight onto Greenspot Boulevard
38 mi · 00h 53m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Mostly Sunny leaving Big Bear City and Mostly Sunny near San Diego.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Big Bear City to San Diego?
The road trip is about 157.1 miles (252.9 km) and usually takes 03h 02m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Homeland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 74.9 miles from Big Bear City and 82.2 miles from San Diego.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 108.4 miles (174.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:54 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.96 one way or $63.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Big Bear City and Mostly Sunny near San Diego.
Stop Ideas Near Homeland
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Best Western Plus Diamond Valley Inn
Summerly Community Park - City of Lake Elsinore
H&R Block
City of Lake Elsinore
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Homeland.
Sun City, California
Hemet (West Florida Ave), California
Hemet (Devonshire Ave), California
Perris, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Big Bear City and San Diego. Straight-line distance: 108.35 mi (174.38 km).
#1 Big Bear City
Census designated place
| Population | 12,304 |
| Coordinates | 34.2611200, -116.8450300 |
| Altitude | 2064 |
| Country | United States |
#2 San Diego
The eighth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Diego metropolitan area.
| Population | 1,422,420 |
| Coordinates | 32.7157100, -117.1647200 |
| Altitude | 20 |
| Country | United States |
End: Front Street (-117.164717, 32.71571)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 253 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 14m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 55m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 08m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 37m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 57m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $31.96 | $63.92 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $33.61 | $67.21 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $34.59 | $69.17 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $41.92 | $83.84 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in California · Apr 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.